Some USAF F-16 pilots participating in Viper Lance ‘06 in Romania have gotten to fly the backseat of Romanian Air Force MiG-21s and returned the favor to their Romanian counterparts. Viper pilot 1st Lt. Coleman McDonald says the MiG-21 Lancer has some avionics similar to the F-16 but has different performance and handling characteristics. Romanian MiG-21 pilot 1st Lt. Lates Catalin believes the USAF F-16 pilots are “very well trained” and calls the F-16 “a superior aircraft.”
Small satellites meant to improve the way the U.S. measures Earth’s magnetic field—an option to expand the military’s position, navigation, and timing enterprise—launched March 30 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif.